CMA CMA Sampling & Testing Methods

Question 1

Which air sampling method collects mold spores on a glass slide coated with adhesive for direct microscopic examination?

Accepted Answer

Impaction sampling (e.g., Andersen, RCS)

Answer

Impaction samplers like the Air-O-Cell or Burkard draw air through a slit, impacting particles onto an adhesive-coated slide for microscopic analysis.

Question 2

What is the primary advantage of bulk sampling compared to air sampling when assessing mold in building materials?

Accepted Answer

Bulk sampling identifies the fungal species present in the material itself

Answer

Bulk samples (pieces of building material) allow laboratories to identify and quantify fungi actually colonizing the material, not just what is airborne.

Question 3

What does the term 'colony forming unit' (CFU) represent in mold culture analysis?

Accepted Answer

A single viable propagule capable of growing into a visible colony

Answer

A CFU is one countable mold colony that grew from a single viable fungal structure (spore, hyphal fragment, etc.) — it represents viability, not total spore count.

Question 4

Which analytical method can identify mold genera and species using DNA without requiring laboratory culture growth?

Accepted Answer

qPCR (quantitative polymerase chain reaction)

Answer

qPCR detects and quantifies specific fungal DNA sequences, allowing identification of species including those that do not culture readily.

Question 5

What is an 'outdoor control' (background) sample, and why is it required during an indoor mold assessment?

Accepted Answer

An outdoor air sample collected simultaneously to establish baseline spore levels

Answer

An outdoor control sample establishes the background spore types and concentrations so that indoor levels can be meaningfully compared to determine if there is an indoor amplification problem.

(CMA) Certified Mold Assessor Practice Test

(CMA) Certified Mold Assessor Practice Test

CMA CMA Sampling & Testing Methods